50–40–90 club

During his second stint with the Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash achieved the 50-40-90 feat in four separate seasons, the most of any player.

The 50–40–90 club is a statistical achievement used to distinguish players as excellent shooters in the National Basketball Association (NBA), NBA G League, Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and men's college basketball. It requires a player to achieve the criteria of 50% field goal percentage, 40% three-point field goal percentage, and 90% free throw percentage over the course of a regular season, while meeting the minimum thresholds to qualify as a league leader in each category.[1][2]

In NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League history, only 11 players have recorded a 50–40–90 season, with nine in the NBA and one each in the WNBA and the NBA G League. The most recent player to achieve a 50–40–90 season was Kevin Durant in 2022–23 (which was also the first 55–40–90 season in NBA history).[3] Eleven collegiate players have recorded a 50–40–90 season, with Salim Stoudamire and Matt Kennedy recording 50–50–90 seasons.

Larry Bird, the first player to accomplish the 50–40–90 achievement, and one of three players to achieve the feat in multiple seasons.

History

The 50–40–90 season has only been a possibility since the introduction of the three-point field goal in the 1979–80 NBA season.[1]

Steve Nash, Larry Bird, and Kevin Durant are the only players who have had multiple 50–40–90 seasons. Bird recorded consecutive 50–40–90 seasons in 1986–87 and 1987–88, while Nash recorded four such seasons between 2005 and 2010.[4] Nash narrowly missed five consecutive 50–40–90 seasons by shooting at 89.9% from the free throw line during the 2006–07 season, one made free throw short of the 90% mark.[5] Durant's two 50–40–90 seasons are notably separated by 10 years, having been recorded in 2012–13 and 2022–23.

Stephen Curry is the only player to record a 50–40–90 season while averaging over 30 PPG. He is also the only player in NBA history to join the club and lead the league in scoring in the same season. Curry recorded 30.1 PPG on 50–45–91 splits in the 2015–16 season.[6]

Kevin Durant (2012–13) and Mark Price (1988–89), at the age of 24, are the youngest players to join the 50–40–90 club.[7]

Quinn Cook became the first NBA G League player to record a 50–40–90 season in 2018.[8]

Elena Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to record a 50–40–90 season in 2019.[1]

Tony Snell became the first player in NBA history to have a 50–50–100 season (min. 100 attempts) in 2021.[9]

List and calculations

NBA

Similar to baseball batting averages, official NBA shooting statistics are calculated to the third decimal place (thousandths) but are referred to as percentages. While the NBA officially uses a three-digit number, it reports shooting statistics in a shortened and rounded form as a percentage, so that .899 to the third decimal place is simplified as a two digit "90%" in most of its reporting.[10] Thus, a true 50–40–90 season requires a player to achieve or exceed 50.0 percent field goal efficiency, 40.0 percent three-point field goal efficiency and 90.0 percent free-throw shooting efficiency. The NBA requires a player to make at least 300 field goals, 82 three-pointers, and 125 free throws to be a leader in the respective category. For shortened seasons, stats are prorated to an 82-game season.[11][12]

^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Player Season GP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% PTS PPG Ref.
Larry Bird* 1986–87 74 786 1,497 53% (.525) 90 225 40% (.400) 414 455 91% (.910) 2,076 28.1 [13]
Larry Bird* (2) 1987–88 76 881 1,672 53% (.527) 98 237 41% (.414) 415 453 92% (.916) 2,275 29.9 [13]
Mark Price 1988–89 75 529 1,006 53% (.526) 93 211 44% (.441) 263 292 90% (.901) 1,414 18.9 [14]
Reggie Miller* 1993–94 79 524 1,042 50% (.503) 123 292 42% (.421) 403 444 91% (.908) 1,574 19.9 [15]
Steve Nash* 2005–06 79 541 1,056 51% (.512) 150 342 44% (.439) 257 279 92% (.921) 1,489 18.8 [5]
Dirk Nowitzki* 2006–07 78 673 1,341 50% (.502) 72 173 42% (.416) 498 551 90% (.904) 1,916 24.6 [16]
Steve Nash* (2) 2007–08 81 485 962 50% (.504) 179 381 47% (.470) 222 245 91% (.906) 1,371 16.9 [5]
Steve Nash* (3) 2008–09 74 428 851 50% (.503) 108 246 44% (.439) 196 210 93% (.933) 1,160 15.7 [5]
Steve Nash* (4) 2009–10 81 499 985 51% (.507) 124 291 43% (.426) 211 225 94% (.938) 1,333 16.5 [5]
Kevin Durant^ 2012–13 81 731 1,433 51% (.510) 139 334 42% (.416) 679 750 91% (.905) 2,280 28.1 [17]
Stephen Curry^ 2015–16 79 805 1,598 50% (.504) 402 886 45% (.454) 363 400 91% (.908) 2,375 30.1 [18]
Malcolm Brogdon^ 2018–19 64 378 748 51% (.505) 104 244 43% (.426) 141 152 93% (.928) 1,001 15.6 [19]
Kyrie Irving^ 2020–21 54 549 1,086 51% (.506) 152 378 40% (.402) 201 218 92% (.922) 1,451 26.9 [20]
Kevin Durant^ (2) 2022–23 47 483 862 56% (.560) 93 230 40% (.404) 307 334 92% (.919) 1,366 29.1 [17]

NBA G League

Player Season GP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% PTS PPG Ref.
Quinn Cook 2017–18 29 269 513 52% (.524) 83 190 44% (.437) 114 120 95% (.950) 735 25.3 [8]

WNBA

Player Season GP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% PTS PPG Ref.
Elena Delle Donne 2019 31 220 427 52% (.515) 52 121 43% (.430) 114 117 97% (.974) 606 19.5 [21]

Men's NCAA

Player Team Season GP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% PTS PPG Ref.
Josh Grant Utah 1992–93 31 194 366 53% (.530) 44 100 44% (.440) 104 113 92% (.920) 536 17.3 [22]
Salim Stoudamire Arizona 2004–05 36 210 417 50% (.504) 120 238 50% (.504) 122 134 91% (.910) 662 18.4
Jaycee Carroll Utah State 2007–08 34 251 502 50% (.500) 42 101 42% (.416) 137 149 92% (.919) 785 22.4
Luke Babbitt Nevada 2009–10 36 194 366 53% (.530) 44 100 44% (.440) 199 217 92% (.917) 743 21.9
Levi Knutson Colorado 2010–11 38 158 312 51% (.506) 81 171 47% (.474) 47 52 90% (.904) 444 11.7
Isaiah Williams Iona 2013–14 28 118 221 53% (.534) 61 143 43% (.427) 18 20 90% (.900) 315 12.8
Matt Kennedy Charleston Southern 2013–14 31 135 264 51% (.511) 49 98 50% (.500) 69 76 91% (.908) 388 12.5
Miles Bowman High Point 2016–17 30 140 274 51% (.511) 34 69 49% (.493) 109 121 90% (.901) 423 14.1
Cassius Winston Michigan State 2017–18 35 143 282 51% (.507) 73 169 49% (.497) 81 90 90% (.900) 442 12.6
David Cohn William & Mary 2017–18 31 144 272 53% (.529) 49 115 43% (.426) 103 113 91% (.912) 440 14.2
Trey Murphy III Virginia 2020–21 25 96 191 50% (.503) 52 120 43% (.433) 38 41 93% (.927) 282 11.3

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Martin, Brian (September 9, 2019). "WNBA Stats: 50-40-90 Is The Icing On EDD's Historic Season". WNBA.com. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Allen, Scott (September 10, 2019). "'Insane numbers: NBA stars welcome Elena Delle Donne to 50-40-90 club". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  3. ^ Nacion, Chicco (May 16, 2021). "Kyrie becomes 9th NBA player to join 50-40-90 club". theScore. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Matange, Yash (May 16, 2021). "Kyrie Irving joins NBA's all-time 50-40-90 club to cap-off career year as Nets seal East's second seed". Sporting News. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Steve Nash Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  6. ^ "ESPN – Elias Says: Sports Statistics – Stats from the Elias Sports Bureau". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  7. ^ "youngest player in the 50+ 40+ 90+ club". October 15, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Warriors' Quinn Cook becomes first G League player to join 50-40-90 club". SFGate. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-04. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Tony Snell -- yes, Tony Snell! -- just had the most unique statistical season in NBA history". www.usatoday.com. May 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Cohen, Richard M., and Neft, David S.: The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Basketball Edition, St. Martin's Press, 1990.
  11. ^ "Statistical Minimums | Stats | NBA.com | NBA.com". www.nba.com. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Rate Statistic Requirements". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Larry Bird Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  14. ^ "Mark Price Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  15. ^ "Reggie Miller Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  16. ^ "Dirk Nowitzki Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Kevin Durant Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  18. ^ "Stephen Curry Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  19. ^ "Malcolm Brogdon Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  20. ^ "Kyrie Irving Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  21. ^ "Elena Delle Donne WNBA Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "Every member of DI men's basketball's 50-40-90 club (since 1993) | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 19 February 2024.